Refrigerated Pickled Asparagus Food

QUICK-PICKLED SPICY ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Place trimmed asparagus in a quart-sized canning jar. Add garlic, pepper flakes, mustard seed, and peppercorns.
• Combine vinegar, water, salt, and sugar in a medium saucepan over medium heat; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Turn heat off.
• Pour vinegar mixture over the asparagus. Screw on the lid and let sit until lid has sealed, about 1 hour.
• Place in the refrigerator until pickled, at least 2 days.

PICKLED ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Trim the cut end of the asparagus spears, and cut them into 3 inch lengths. Place them in a large bowl with 1/3 cup salt, and cover with water. Let stand for 2 hours. Drain and rinse under cool water, and pat dry.
• Sterilize two pint size wide mouth jars in simmering water for 5 minutes.
• In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the vinegar, sugar, 1 teaspoon of salt, mustard seed, dill seed and onion rings. Bring to a boil, and boil for one minute.
• Pack the asparagus spears, tips up, in the hot jars leaving 1/2 of space from the rim. Tuck one dill sprig into each jar, and sprinkle in 1/4 teaspoon of red pepper flakes. Pour hot pickling liquid into the jars, filling to within 1/4 inch of the rim. Wipe rims with a clean damp cloth, and seal with lids. Process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes.
• Cool to room temperature. Check seals when cool by pressing the center of the lid. It should not move. Label and date; store in a cool dark place. If any jars have not sealed properly, refrigerate and eat within two weeks.

PICKLED ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Bring the water, vinegar, and salt to a boil for 15 minutes.
• Remove all the cloves from the pickling spice (or as much as you can).
• Wrap the remaining spice in a cheese cloth or tea holder and hang in the vinegar mixture.
• Break off the ends of the asparagus and blanch for 1 to 1-1/2 minutes, then plunge into ice water.
• Place 1 garlic clove and 1 pepper into each quart jar. Pack the asparagus into the jars standing on end, then pour the vinegar mixture into the jars making sure its very hot at the time to ensure a good seal on the jars.
• Wipe rims, place lids and screw on bands fingertip-tight.
• Process in a boiling water bath for ten minutes.
• Store in pantry for 2-1/2 to 3 months before use.

REFRIGERATOR PICKLES: CAULIFLOWER, CARROTS, CUKES, YOU NAME IT

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, bring 4 cups water to a boil, reduce the heat so the water simmers and add the garlic. Cook for 5 minutes. Add the vinegar and salt, raise the heat and bring to a boil, stirring until the salt dissolves. Remove from the heat.
• In 2 clear 1-quart jars, place a few sprigs of dill. Divide the seeds and peppercorns between the jars. Using tongs, remove the garlic from the brine and place 5 cloves in each jar. Then pack the jars full of cucumbers, carrots, scallions or green beans, cauliflower and chiles. You want them to be tightly stuffed.
• Bring the brine back to a boil, pour it over the vegetables to cover completely, let cool, then cover and refrigerate. The pickles will taste good in just a few hours, better after a couple of days. And they'll keep for about 3 months.

REFRIGERATOR PICKLED ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Heat a large pot of water for blanching the asparagus. Salt the water with 1 tablespoon per quart of water in the pot. Separately, add ice to a large bowl and fill with ice water (this is to quickly cool the aparagus later; set this aside).
• In a separate saucepan, combine the vinegar, water, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, sugar, pepper, allspice, bay leaf and a sprig of thyme (save the rest of the thyme for the jars). Bring to a rolling boil, then remove from heat and allow to steep for 15 minutes off the heat.
• Prepare the asparagus: Snap off or cut off the woodiest ends of the spears. Trim the stalks to the size of your jar. I measure the jar, and then use a measuring tape or ruler while cutting so my spears will fit without being squished by the lid. Blanch the asparagus in the boiling water for about 90 seconds, working in batches if you don't have room in the pot for the asparagus to boil freely. Spears should be pliable but still firm, with a bright green color. Remove blanched asparagus from the boiling water and plunge it into the ice water to shock it and stop the cooking. Remove from ice water and dry on a towel.
• Pack the jars; Pack the spears into squeaky clean wide-mouth pint jars, along with a fresh sprig of thyme. Add the garlic to the jars, dividing equally.
• Strain the pickling syrup and pour syrup into the jars. Screw lids on tightly and place jars in refrigerator to marinate. Allow asparagus to pickle for a week before you open the lid and enjoy it!

PICKLED ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Cut bottoms off asparagus to make them fit upright in a pint jar. Asparagus tips should be at least 1/2 inch below lid. (Reserve bottoms for another use.)
• Pour about 2 inches water into a skillet large enough to hold asparagus lying down; bring to a boil. In batches, blanch asparagus: place in skillet, bring water back to a boil, and then immediately remove and run under very cold water or dunk in ice water. Set aside to drain.
• Combine remaining ingredients in a saucepan with 2 1/4 cups vinegar and bring to a boil. Stir occasionally and cook just until salt dissolves; turn off heat.
• Prepare 4 clean, hot pint jars and bands, and new lids. (Dip in boiling water, or run through dishwasher.) When jars are dry but still hot, pack asparagus into them, wedging spears in tightly. There should be enough for 3 or 4 full jars: do not half-fill jars.
• Pour in vinegar solution, just to barely cover tips of asparagus. Make sure to leave 1/2 inch air space above vinegar solution. Distribute garlic slivers and spices evenly among jars. Wipe rims with a clean paper towel dipped in hot water, place lids on top and screw on bands. (Not too tight, just firmly closed.)
• Prepare a boiling-water bath in a deep pot with a rack. Place jars on rack and pour water over them, making sure water covers jars by 2 to 3 inches. Bring water back to a rolling boil over high heat, start a timer for 10 minutes, then reduce heat and gently boil. When timer goes off, turn off heat and wait 5 minutes before removing jars with jar lifter or tongs. Let cool on counter, untouched, 4 to 6 hours. After 12 to 24 hours, check seals: lift each jar up by the lid, and press the lid to make sure the center is sucked down tightly.
• Store in a cool, dark, dry place (not refrigerator) for 4 weeks before using, or up to 1 year. Refrigerate after opening. To serve, drain off pickling liquid and arrange asparagus on plates. Add hard-boiled egg, drizzle with oil and shower with black pepper.